Coal bin



Amuy 2, 1929.

V. J.-COVINGTON coAL BIN Filed Aug. 9, 1927 JMN 1 4Viel fovjz'nyfon A TTORNE Y.

Patented July 2, 1929.

VANN JEFF COVINGTON, OF GI-IERAW, SOUTH CAROLINA.

COAL BIN.

Application filed August 9, 1927. Serial No. 211,818.

This invention relates to bins, and particularly to bins designed for holding coal. The general object of the invention is to provide a bin which is of'such character that it may be used as an article of furniture while conveniently containing coal.

A further object is to provide means disposed entirely Within the bin whereby .the coal may be shaken down from time to time so-as to feed properly into the lower portion of the bin, from which it may be taken for feeding lires.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of a coal binv constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view showing a breaker board shaker in detail.

Referring to this drawing, it will be seen that the bin comprises a supporting frame 10 which includes the four legs 11 and the framing beams 12 and 13. The framing beams support the. panels 111-. The lower portion of the bin is formed with a drop door 15 which is hinged so that it may be swung downward. for easy access. The top 16 of the bin is hinged at 17 to the frame of the bin and this top overhangs the frame so as to form a table top and thus make the bin a convenient article of furnitur'e. The interior of the bin may be lined with sheet metal.

Disposed within the bin are a plurality of breakers, shown as two in number and designated 18 and 19. The breaker 18 extends downward and forward from the rear of the box or bin. Each breaker board is covered on its upper surface with a sheet of metal 20 and each breaker board is supported by means of the triangular brackets or clips 21 held to the frame by screws 22. EX- tending through these brackets and having bearing therein are the breaker board shakers 23. Each of these shafts is formed with crank portions 24 and each shaft at one end is squared for engagement with the socket of a crank handle 25. By rotating these shafts 23, the proper breaker board will be shaken and jarred so as to ar the coal downward into the lower portion of the bin, the coal remaining in the upper portion of the bin as in a magazine. i

The drop door 15 is used as a platform when opened. The breaker is arranged preferably at an angle of about 450 and causes the coal to feed down and also helps in holding the weight of the coal. An ordinary coal shovel may be used to remove the coal as needed from the opened door. When a shovelful of coal is removed. from the bottom, more coal automatically feeds down to take its place. The top breaker, it is to be noted, feeds toward the front of the bin, while the lower breaker feeds toward the rear.. No coal will fall out of the box when the lower door is opened. The shakers are used on the breakers so that in case of a choke, which choke, however, l have found to be very rare, a small turn of the shaker handle will cause the coal to discharge and feed downward.

I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction illustrated, as this might be modified in many ways without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. A bin of the character described, having a hinged top and a bottom, one wall of the bin being provided with a ldoor whereby access may be had to the lower portion of the bin, downwardly and inwardly extending breakers disposed within the bin and disposed alternately on opposite side walls, hinged members connecting each breaker with the adjacent wall, crank shafts extending through thc bin and having cranked portions loosely engaging against the under sides of said breakers, and means on the exterior of the bin whereby the crank shafts may be rotated to oscillate the breakers.

2. A bin of the character described, comprising a supporting frame, the bin having side walls and a bottom, a top member hinged to the frame and constituting a table top, brackets disposed on opposite walls of the bin and having downwardly inclined top edges, the brackets of one side of the bin being disposed below those on the other side, breakers hinged to the walls of the bin and extending downwardly and inwardly and normally resting upon said brackets, and means extendingV through the Walls of the bin whereby said breakers may be osollated and comprising shafts rotatably mounted n said brackets formed With alternating opposite'ly direct-ed Crank portions v engageable With and against the under face of the breakers, the shafts at their outer ends belng formed to engage Wlth an operatrng handle.

In testnnony Whereot I hereunto afx my slgnature.

VANN JEFF COVINGTON. 

